This is a picture my daughter Beri took on a recent trip to Greece. Stunning! More Greece pics to come.

Engage Thy Mind! 

Isaiah 53, post # 5 

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, (this will happen as the events of the second coming of Christ take place), so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 

This verse is often correlated with Isaiah 53. It describes the realization of the Jewish nation that they have rejected Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah for several millennium. They will realize what they have done and weep and mourn bitterly. 

Today, we are living in the ‘time of the Gentiles’. This is a period of history when God dulls the minds of the Jewish nation to the reality of Jesus and gives light to gentiles, such as me and many of you. Paul writes about it in Romans 10 and 11. The Jews are not rejected as God’s chosen people. Ultimately, they will be revived and renewed at the events of the Second Coming. Paul says it this way in explaining to the Roman Christian why it is their time, as Gentiles, to become saved by grace. 

I say then, they (Israel) did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! (Israel’s time of ignorance as a nation is not eternal). But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them (Israel) jealous. Romans 10:11 

Now, I admit, I’m getting into some deep stuff for a simple devotional blog. Sorry, I can’t help it. Consider this as you wade through my writings:  

The depth of your worship is directly connected to the depth of your understanding of the depth of God and HIS plan for your life!  

So, allow me to encourage you to push through it, knowing you might not “get it” all right now. But “get” some of it and realize that our God is a huge God. He is worthy for you to fully engage your brain so that you can more fully engage your emotions in worship. OK? 

Oh yea, I promised to actually get to Isaiah 53 today. Hmmm, I can hear my bride lovingly whispering in my ear right now; “will you get to the point, already.’ 🙂 

We’re in Isaiah 53. The rapture and the great tribulation have taken place and we are at the Second Coming of Christ. God the Father speaks through the prophet Isaiah (thousands of years earlier) and says the following at the Second Coming; 

Behold, my Servant (Jesus) will prosper; He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, my people (the Jews, whose history as a nation, it’s survival, the success and resiliency of its people and the restoration of its land… are astonishing). So, His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men. Thus, He will sprinkle (astonish) many nations, Kings will shut their mouth on account of Him; for what had not been told them, they will see, and what they had not heart, they will understand. Isaiah 52:13-15. 

Consider how the rulers of the world and the nations of the world live today. They do not hardly give a thought to the person of Jesus. Including the Jews as a nation. Some 98% of Israelite, orthodox or not, do not regard Jesus as anything. The pitiful Jesus of Nazareth who lived 2000 + years ago is highly regarded by us, but we are far into the minority of the world’s population. To them, Jesus is no more relevant than any other well-known historical philosopher. Many believe that Jesus is far inferior to Buddha, Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. 

But at His Second Coming, EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE!!! Much more to come on this incredible chapter. 

Lord, come Jesus, come. Our hearts are constantly broken that the world doesn’t see You for who You really are. But we do. We mourn for the lost and ignorant but we rejoice in our salvation. More than ever, based on our study today, WE ARE BLESSED WITH GRACE UPON GRACE TO KNOW YOU AND TO BELIEVE. It’s not because we are smarter or more noble. It is all because of You! You saved us and we are Yours for eternity. Our hearts are forever grateful. Amen!